Internal combustion engine



1940- A. CARMECHAEL ,23

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Aug. 19, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor A tiorneys Nov. 12, 1940.

A. B. CARMICHA EL INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Aug. 19, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inuentpr A. B. CARMICHAEL INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Nov. 12, 1940.

Filed Aug. 19, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov. 12,1940

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Asa B. Carmichael, Grand Coulee, Wash. Application August 19, 1938, Serial No. 225,804

3 '2 Claims. (01. 123 -24) This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in internal combustion engines and to engines which utilize as fuel other than liquids.

' 'Ihe principal object of the present invention is to provide an-engine wherein the fuel consists in the discharging of a powdered explosive or dry explosive in the combustion chambers of the engine.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an engine wherein fuel is in the form of a tape carrying a multiplicity of deposits of explosive material which are rapidly set off in the combustion chambers of the engine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention 'will become apparent to the reader of the following specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a front elevational view 20 of the engine with parts in sections.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through one of;the,cylinders. v

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view through one of the cylindersand magazine. 7 25 Figure 4 is a fragmentary front view with the turbine removed. Figure 5 is va fragmentary detailed sectional view showing the ratchet means. 3

Figure 6 isa fragmentary plan view of the 30 explosive tape. 9

Figure 7 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view taken substantially onthe line 1-1 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detailed sectional 35 view taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 1. i

Figurfl is a perspective view of the firing pin mechanism. 4

Figure 10 is an end elevational view of .the 40 magazine body.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view through the magazine.

elevational vertical sectional Referring to the drawings wherein like nu- |5 which is normally closed by spring means I6. 55 Only one cylinder is shown in the drawings,

I3 operating against a bellcrank M which in turn control an exhaust valve 'a recess therein in t 49f rm 'of a pocket 2|! in which a block 2| is slidable. Dovetailed connections 22 are provided between the sides of block 2| and the side walls of head extension 19. I The block 2| has a reduced nose portion 23 10 formed by tapering the block 2| and across this is feedable a\tape 24, this tape 24 having perforations along the longitudinal edges thereof de noted by numeral 25 for receiving pins 26 of a feed wheel 21 and carrying at equal spaced intervals desposits 28 of explosive material which are connected with caps 29 set off by percussion. Th se deposits and caps are assembled and suitab y adhered to the tape 25 and are fed across the nose portion 23 of the block 2| by the feed mechanism; Each time a cap 29 is suitable control within reach of the driver. the mid-portion of the cylinder-45 is a partition 50 '50 having a check valve 5| therein and in the.

' fired and the adjacent explosive deposit 28 set oil, the block- 2| is retracted so that another explosive deposit can be fed into position so that its cap 29 will be in a position to be struck by firing pin3ll which operates through an opening 3| adjacent the extremity of the reduced portion 23. This firing pin 30 has a spring 32 asso-. ciated therewith for-projecting the same toward the cap and its outer end is formed with the 30 upstanding leg 33 with which the inner end of a. rockable arm 34 is engageable. This arm 34 extends into a slot 35 of block 2| and through a slot in head extension I9 to terminate at its outer end within the path of a-projection 36 35 carried by a disk 31, which disk is provided with a. few peripheral teeth 38 meshable with rack teeth 39 on a plate extension 40 which projects laterally from the lower portion of the block 2| and through a slot in the lower portion of the 40 head extension I9. Numeral 4| represents a housing for a turbine 42 and this turbine drives by a shaft 43. Extending to the housing 4| is a conduit 44 which extends from an air pres-3 sure cylinder 45. The lower end of the conduit 45 44 has an enlarged formation 46 in which is located a control valve 41 operative bythe arm 48 and this arm is connected by a rod 49 to a .In

cylinder below the partition 50 operates a piston 52 which is connected by a pitman 53 to cranks 54 on the aforementioned cam shaft Numeral 55. represents an air intake check 5|! valve, while numeral 56 repres nts an excessive pressurebleed valve. Numeral 51 represents a valve by which the storage chamber 58 can be charged or primed in the event pressure is completely spent therefrom. The purpose of the air cylinder 45 and turbine 42 is to provide drive means for the shaft. and gear 31 for feeding the tape 24 and operating the firing pin 30. The air compressor 52, storage tank 58 and turbine 42 are employed for driving the shaft 43, pin 36 and toothed disk 31,.to the end that motive force is supplied for operating the block 2| and firing pin operating arm 34.

A shell-like structure 60 is formed with a slip connection 6| for the upper end of the head extension 9 and this flares out to form two cases 62 for pay-ofl' and take-on reels 63 and 64 which are mounted on stub shafts 65 in the said shells 62. The tape 24 extends from the reel 63 and is fed by a wheel 21 with the cooperation of a roller 66 mounted opposedly thereto. The tape extends longitudinally inwardly and outwardly of the block 2| to return to the take-on reel 64. Obviously at each revolution of the shaft 43 the firing pin 3| is cocked and subsequently gear 31 operating on the rack 39 will hold block 2| so that the tape 24 is held clamped between the reducyd nose 23 of the abutment block 2| and the cylinder block I8 pending releasement of the firing pin 3| by the rocker 34. a

The feed wheel 21 is operated as is apparent in Figure 11. The feed wheel 21 is mounted on a shaft 1| which operates through a bushing 12 and which at its lower end carries a ratchet wheel 13. Swingable or rotatable on the shaft 1| is an arm 14 which carries a pawl 15 (springpressed) and obviously each time cam formation 16 on the adjacent side of disk 31 strikes the same the resulting motion is imparted to feed wheel 21. V

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and 1 materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is: g

1. In arrinternal combustion engine, a combus tion chamber, a tape carrying deposits ofexplosive material, means for feeding the tape to the combustion chamber and means for firing the explosive deposits successively at the firing chamber, said means for firing the explosive deposits consisting of a firing pin and automatic means for operating the pin, said means for feedin the tape being controlled by the operation of the engine, a fluid operated turbine controlled by the operation of the engine and being adapted to operate the feed'mechanism and firing means simultaneously.

2. In an internal combustion engine, a combustion chamber, a tape carrying deposits of explosive material, means for feeding the -tape to firing position at the combustion chamber,

- means for firing the explosive deposits successively at the-firing chamber, a rotor driven by the engine, said means for firing the explosive deposits consisting of a retractible spring projected firing pin, and means between the rotor and the firing pin for retracting and releasing the pin intermittently, said last-mentioned means consisting of an arm rotated by the rotor and a rocker having one end engageable with the firing pin and the other end by the arm.

3. In an internal combustion engine, a comdeposits consisting of a retractible ,spri'ng projected firing pin, and means between the rotor and the firing pin for retracting and releasing the pin intermittently, and a slidable abutment over which the tape travels.

4. In an internal combustion engine, a combustion chamber, a tape carrying deposits of explosive material, means for feeding the tape to firing positionat the combustion chamber, means for firing the explosive deposits successively at the firing chamber, a rotor driven by the engine, said means for firing the explosive deposits consisting of a retractible spring projected firing pin, and means between the rotor and the firing pin for retracting and releasing the pin intermittently, and a slidable abutment over which the tape travels, and holding means operative by the said rotor for clamping the abutment against the tape and closing the combustion chamber when an explosive deposit is being discharged.

5. In an internal combustion engine, a combustion chamber, a tape carrying deposits of explosive material, means for feeding the tape to firing position at the combustion chamber, means for firing the explosive deposits successively at the firing chamber, a; rotor driven by the engine, said means for firing the explosive deposits consistingof a retractible spring projected firing pin, and means between the rotor the pin intermittently, said means for feeding ,the tape comprising a roll engaging the-tape,

a ratchet wheel, a pawl rockably mounted and adapted to drive the ratchet wheel'and a boss on the rotor for engaging the rockable pawl and operating the ratchet wheel, said ratchet wheel being rotatable withthe rotor. I

6. In an internal combustion engine, a combustion chamber, a tape carrying deposits of explosive material, means for feeding the tape to firing position at the combustion chamber, means for firing the explosive deposits successively at the firing chamber, a rotor driven by the engine, said means for firing the explosive deposits consisting of a retractible. spring projected firing pin, and means between the rotor and the firing pin for retracting and releasing the pin intermittently, an abutment movable against the tape to hold the same in proper position at the combustion chamber, and means carried by the rotorfor holding the abutment-in tape clamping position at the time releasement of the firing pin 4'0 and the firing pin for retracting and releasing 

